Maldonado sets pace as Barcelona test begins

Pastor Maldonado sent Lotus to the top of the times after setting the quickest time on the first day of the second pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Maldonado recovered from two early stoppages to set a time of 1:25.011 on the Soft tyres, narrowly beating Kimi Raikkonen's quickest effort, which the Finn had achieved on the Medium compound.

Daniel Ricciardo was third quickest for Red Bull, having set his best time on Options.

Sergio Pérez completed the afternoon session for Force India and posted the fourth quickest time in the squad’s 2014 machine.

Felipe Nasr topped the morning session but his day was marred when he collided with Susie Wolff on the approach to Turn 5.

Nasr, on a hot lap, appeared to make contact with Wolff, with the front left of the Williams sustaining damage and the rear of the Sauber also taking a hit.

Nasr ended the day in fifth place - having brought the session to a premature halt when he stopped at Turn 9 - ahead of Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen.

McLaren’s day appeared to start brightly, following the squad’s persistent problems throughout the first test at Jerez.

Jenson Button completed 21 laps during the first two hours and threatened the top positions, though a faulty seal within the MGU-K scuppered the team’s progress, with McLaren needing to change the entire power unit.

With a new part not set to appear until Saturday, the problem threatens to disrupt the squad’s running on Friday, when Fernando Alonso will drive the car.

Pascal Wehrlein replaced after Lewis Hamilton felt too unwell to continue his running for Mercedes due to a fever. Wehrlein replaced Hamilton as Nico Rosberg, present at the track for media purposes, was unable to drive due to an inflamed nerve. The German remains a doubt for his planned day in the car on Friday.

Wehrlein, who tested for Force India as planned during the morning session, ended up setting a quicker time in the VJM07 than he did in the W06 Hybrid.